020
1268 Words
ISLA
~•~
The silence stretched between us after those words. The air was thick with smoke and I hated how calm he looked. Then again, when wasn’t he calm?
“You’re delusional if you think I’ll marry you,” I spat out, my fists clenching by my side. I knew I was making the wrong decision. I knew that giving him a reaction would amuse him even more. Declaring that I’d never marry him would make him want to marry me.
I didn’t know him that well but I knew him well enough to know he liked to force people into doing what they didn’t want to. However, I couldn’t help myself. I had just narrowly escaped death, which was why I came straight to his office.
“You can parade me around all you like. You can announce to everyone but that doesn’t change the truth.”
He tilted his head, watching me with that amused expression on his face. I was basically entertainment to him at this point. “And what truth is that?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, reminded of why I hated speaking with him or being near him. Just one look from him was enough to fill me with rage. His reaction to my words made me forget what I came here for. “You disgust me.” I finally said. “You act untouchable but all you do is hide behind threats.”
“Careful now,” he rose from his seat, not the faintest display of anger on his face. I wanted to make him as mad as he made me but he made it impossible. “That pretty mouth of yours might get you in trouble.”
“I don’t care,” I told him honestly. Last night was overwhelming. This morning, I woke up to the news of a death, which happened because of me. As if that wasn’t enough, I almost died because of him. I was honestly done with him. “You killed my family and you think I’ll just play along? You really think I’ll wear your ring and let you ruin what’s left of my life?” There was barely anything left to ruin, but Lorenzo just couldn’t leave me alone.
He rounded his desk and leaned in front of it, stubbing his cigarette on the ashtray. He dropped it there and turned to face me again. “That’s exactly what I think.”
“I’ll never be your wife.”
His lips curved into a smile. “You already are. Everyone else knows it.”
“Just because people believe it doesn’t mean it’s true!”
“That’s exactly what it means.” His smile widened. “It’s easy to create the truth you want. The moment you walked into my house, you became mine.”
My chest tightened. I already hated myself for walking right into his trap. The worst part? He didn’t even like me. He didn’t want me because he was attracted to me. He just wanted to conquer me. He wanted to win against me. It made me feel small. It made me feel like I had no choice. “I’m not your property. You don’t own me.”
For some reason, his expression shifted, going from amused to cold in seconds. His voice dropped low. “You were born into this life, Isla. The second I called you my fiancée at that gala, you stopped being your father’s daughter. You belong to me now. Name. Body. Legacy.” He emphasized each word, ensuring they cut right where they were supposed to. “The girl your parents wanted to protect? She’s dead. I buried her the night I buried your family.”
Those words hit harder than any slap ever could. My legs almost gave out beneath me, but I steadied myself, not wanting to let him see me crumble.
I hated him. I hated him with every fiber of my being.
“Is that why you killed the man from last night?” My voice trembled but from rage instead of fear. “Because I ‘belonged to you’?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, baby. But if you must know, yes, that’s exactly why I killed him. He dared to touch what I claimed as mine. He was no different from a dead man walking after that. It was just a reminder to others.”
Someone’s life reduced to a reminder. I knew he was a horrible person but I didn’t think he deserved to die just like that.
I placed my hand on my chest, rubbing it slightly, hoping to ease the pain. Was this my new reality? Constantly being reminded by my parents’ killer that he killed them and having every man who touched me die? No wonder my parents tried to shield me from this life. Everyone was cruel but Lorenzo? He was a monster.
“Because of your little reminder, I almost died today. Did you know that?”
For once, I saw his expression fall.
“One of your admirers pointed a gun at me because of you. She wanted me to leave you.” I laughed bitterly. “Like I have a choice.”
He licked his lips. “Only one person would be stupid enough to do that.”
“You know them so well, don’t you?” I gritted out. If I hadn’t reminded that that I was under Lorenzo’s protection, I most likely wouldn’t be alive by now and it infuriated me. I hated that I had to use Lorenzo’s name to stay alive. I hated that I needed him in any way.
“Do you feel aggrieved? Should I bring her to you so you can take your revenge?”
“What revenge?”
“To kill her of course.” He said it without hesitation.
“You want to kill a girl because she wants you!?” I yelled. She was stupid to point a gun at me but that didn’t mean I wanted her dead too.
“No, because she crossed a line.”
“Is killing all you ever think about?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted when you reported her to me? Didn’t you want me to get rid of her for you?
I scoffed. “Like you’d do anything for me. At the end of the day, it all ties back to your ego. You want to make a statement, so you get rid of anyone who crosses you.”
“Smart girl. You’re beginning to learn the ropes. Welcome to my life. Our life.”
“There is no our!” I emphasized. “I am not a part of your life.”
“Yet you’re still in my house under my roof abiding by my rules.”
I exhaled heavily. As if he gave me any other choice. “I’ll leave then.”
He arched his eyebrow. “Really? If you do, leave the way you came. Empty-handed.”
I gritted my teeth at the reminder. He had gotten me almost everything I had. The few things I brought from my ruined home could barely fill up a small duffel bag. He was challenging me. He wanted to let me know I couldn’t survive without him but he was wrong.
I’d rather starve on the streets than eat in his home. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to destroy him. But first, I had to leave here alive.
“Fine,” I declared and turned around, leaving him alone in his office.
- Writer
